Fire extinguisher



July 1 1924'. 1,499,866

G. E. M DONALD ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Original Filed Nov. 23, 1921 Patented July 1, 1924;,

naeaeee GEORGE E. MCDONALD AND THOMAS E. TRAYNOR, 0F JERSEY CIT Y, NEW JERSEY."

FIRE nxrrneursnnn.

Application filed November 28, 1921, Serial no. 518,215.- Renewed March 21,- 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. McDon- ALD and THOMAS E. TRAYNOR, citizens of the United States, and both residents of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of .New Jersey, have invented certain new and ing matter; and are designed to protect such extinguishing liquid against loss by evaporation, and from deterioration by free contact with the atmosphere, while providing for the precipitate discharge of the liquid by atmospheric and hydrostatic pressure upon the opening up of the discharge ports by the melting of the fusible seal substantially as hereinafter set forth,--the' invention consisting in the specific combination and arrangement of parts-and appurtenances described and claimed,-and a distinctive feature being the use of a float valve which 7 normally prevents communication with the atmosphere but which opens automatically to admit air to replace, and facilitate the discharge of, the extinguishing liquid when the discharge ports are unsealed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1, is a top view of our improved fire extinguisher Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the bottom thereof;

Fig. 3, is a central longitudinal section, with the contained extinguishing liquid, the discharge orifices being sealed by a fusible substance;

Fig. 4, is a view like unto Fig. 3, illustrating the discharge of the extinguishing liquid through the unsealed discharge orifices.

Our device consists of a container C, preferably, although not necessarily, of cylindrical form, closed at the lower extremity by a concavo-convex bottom 6, the convexity being external. Within the internal cross sectional area of the body portion of the container C, said concavo-convex bottom I), is

formed with an annular series of discharge tenaciousnessto support the column of fireextinguishing liquid within said container under ordinary .atmospheric conditions and temperatures.

The upper extremity of the container-,0,

is closed by a head it, formed with a filling neck .h, adapted to receivea screw cap 8,

,(indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 3) or any other means of closure',when desired for storage or transportation. When the extinguisher is installed for service the closure.

s, is removed so as to admit of free communication with the atmosphere.

The head it, of the container or reservoir C, isalso provided with'a loop-handle h,

which likewise affords: convenient means whereby the apparatusfimay be suspended insituforuse.

H. In alignment with the inlet 1', in the head it, and with the neck 72/, as shown; in Figs.

3 and 4, we position our floatvalve I), said valve 1), being preferably formed with a facing o, of rubber, felt, or other suitable material, adapted toxmakean air tight; contact with the edges of the inlet 2', when pressed thereagainst, as in Fig. 3. The valve 11, is afiixed to the upper end of a rod o of suitable length, slidably mounted on and between bearing bracket arms 0, 0, attached to the inner side wall of the container C, said bearing bracket arms a, 0, being so spaced apart as to afford the necessary support and extent of movement for said valve rod W, as will be seen by a comparison of Figs. 3 and 4. Attached to the lower extremity of the valve rod o is a float c of any desired or suitable form and construction, that indicated in the drawings being a hollow cylindrical sealed compartment which will displace much more than its own weight of the fire-extinguishing liquid 6, so that when imaersed in said liquid 6, as in Fig. 3, it will force and hold the valve o, in contact with the top plate It, with suflicient pressure to insure a. practically air tight seal, and eX- clude the atmosphere.

When, however, the melting of the fusible filling f, of the discharge orifices d, d, in the bottom I), of the container 0, permits of the escape of the fire-extinguishing liquid 6, therefrom, the diminution of hydrostatic pressure upward against the float Q2 and the creation temporarily of a partial vacuum by the lowering of the liquid level within the upper part of the container immediately tablishment of free communication through the vent i, with the atmosphere.

Hence it will be seen that while, by our improved constructionv and arrangement of parts, we guard the fire extinguishing liquid against atmospheric absorption and evaporation, and against deterioration by oxidation by free contact with the atmosphere, we nevertheless facilitate the discharge of the 'said fire extinguishing. liquid upon occasion by providing for 'a'complete balance of at- "mospheric pressure both above and below the column of liquid within the container, as clearly indicatedin Fig. 4, of the drawiings.

Intliisconnection it may be stated that the protection thus'aiforded against chemical reactions within the container is especially important where the fire extinguishing liquid contains carbon-tetra chloride, and other oxidizable substances held in solu tion therein, as is usually the case in fire extinguishers ofanalogous types to ours,-our

:invention being designed primarily to isolate and prote'ct'thesolution in this respect,

and l prevent concentration and diminution of volume by evaporation while insuring practically instantaneous responsive action in emergency.

Furthermore our dev ce, considered in a unitary sense, is simple and inexpensive, and notliab le to derangement 1f ordlnary care is ;exerc-1sed, n the manipulation and installation thereof,-the closure 8, providing for convenient transportation and storage, and a the simple act of its removal upon installation of the container rendering the device immediately available and operable.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

A fire extinguishing deviceof the character designated, comprising a liquid container formed with discharge apertures in its lower extremity, fusible sealing material normally closing said discharge apertures, an inlet and vent aperture in the upper portion of said container, a filling neck coincident with said inlet and vent aperture, a closure for said filling neck, and a float valve arranged to close said inlet and vent aperture by means of hydrostatic pressure exerted by the liquid contents of the container and free to gravitate away from said vent when said fusible material melts to balance atmospheric pressure both above and below the column of liquid in said container, and a guide for the stem of said valve arranged to limit the downward movement thereof,

' substantially in the manner and for the pur pose described.

GEORGE E. MCDONALD. THOMAS E. TRAYNOR.

' Witnesses:

GEO. WM. MIATT, DOROTHY WV. CARMIOHAEL. 

